AABP GUIDELINES

DEHORNING GUIDELINES

Dehorning cattle reduces the risk of injury to the animal, other cattle and people and, during transporta-
tion to slaughter facilities, reduces bruising of carcasses. This guideline from the American Association
of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) serves to assist veterinarians and producers with enhancing the welfare
of their client’s cattle by providing guidance related to dehorning of calves on beef and dairy opera-
tions. Essential to this process is that consultation occur between the Veterinarian of Record and the
client regarding age at dehorning, dehorning techniques, and pain mitigation strategies that are appro-
priate for each operation. The use of written, herd-specific protocols to document these discussions is
encouraged. Such protocols should be reviewed on a regular basis.

AGE (sedation) may be used to minimize stress and

Ideally, dehorning is completed when the calf is
young and should be performed at the young-
est age possible. Disbudding, which involves the
removal or destruction of the horn-producing
corium in young calves, is preferred over dehorning
if it can be performed within the management
system. Disbudding is achievable prior to two
weeks of age and may be performed as early as
the first 24 hours of life. Dehorning is considered
a more painful procedure with longer healing time,
as the horns are removed after the horn-producing
corium has attached to the skull. In dairy opera-
tions where calves are handled daily, disbudding or
dehorning should be performed by 8 weeks of age.
In open range beef operations, dehorning should
be performed as early as the management system
allows. Accomplishing dehorning prior to 3 months
of age or the first practical opportunity after 3
months of age is encouraged. This age will vary
between production systems and should be based
on recommendations of the Veterinarian of Record
and discussions with farm/ranch management.
The added stress that occurs with increased age
at dehorning should be considered. It is critical that
producers work with their Veterinarian of Record
to ensure appropriate procedures are in place to
promote healing and minimize pain.
RESTRAINT
Calves should be restrained for dehorning in a
way that minimizes stress and the risk of injury to
the animal and the operator. Chemical restraint
increase ease of handling. It is important to note
that some sedatives do not have analgesic proper-
ties and the use of sedation may not eliminate the
need for other pain management strategies. Federal
law restricts sedatives to use by or on the order of a
licensed veterinarian. Employees should be trained
on safe, low stress handling and be provided the
time and resources necessary to achieve this type of
handling. The use of a squeeze chute, tilt table, calf
cart or halter may accomplish proper head restraint.
The application of local anesthetics to minimize the
need for excessive restraint should be utilized.
METHOD
The Veterinarian of Record should work with the
producer to develop written protocols for disbud-
ding or dehorning that work best within their farm
management system. Acceptable methods for
disbudding include application of caustic paste or
an electric/gas iron to destroy the horn producing
corium. The use of caustic paste is less effective
and discouraged after the calf is 2 weeks of age
and ideally should be applied within the first few
days of life. Detailed instructions for the applica-
tion are available.1
Larger horns may require mechanical removal.
A protocol should be in place for managing
wounds that are the result of using mechanical
dehorning devices, which would include control
of infection, pain and fly control. Dehorning at
the earliest age possible within the management
system mitigates the need for gouge dehorning

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF BOVINE PRACTITIONERS

1130 East Main Street, Suite 302 • Ashland, Ohio 44805 • Phone: 419.496.0685 • Fax: 419.496.0697 • www.aabp.org • email: aabphq@aabp.org
Approved by AABP Board of Directors 2019
AABP GUIDELINES
DEHORNING GUIDELINES
in most circumstances. The use of elastic band-
ers in animals with well-developed horns is not
recommended due to increased rates of failure,
increased pain and delayed healing.2
Producers of breeds with access to polled sires
should be encouraged to incorporate polled ge-
netics into their herds, as genomics and selection
make this a viable option for the future with many
dairy breeds. The National Animal Health Monitor-
ing (NAHMS) Beef 2017 Cow-Calf Study reports
that only 7.8% of beef cattle in the US are horned,
improved from 27.8% horned in 1997 and 12.4%
in the 2007-2008 survey
PAIN MANAGEMENT
All methods of disbudding and dehorning cause
pain. AABP recommends that pain management
be considered the standard of care during all
dehorning and disbudding procedures. Producers
are encouraged to work with their Veterinarian of
Record, who is best able to develop the most
appropriate, individualized pain management pro-
tocol for their operation. Scientific evidence sup-
ports that it is possible to enhance animal welfare
associated with these necessary procedures with
the implementation of pain management protocols.
Local Anesthesia
Use of a local anesthetic mitigates the immedi-
ate pain associated with disbudding and de-
horning and provides up to five hours of post-
procedural analgesia. There are a variety of
local anesthetic techniques including a cornual
nerve block or horn bud infiltration. The local
anesthetic protocol should be determined and
prescribed by the Veterinarian of Record. Fed-
eral law restricts the use of local anesthetics to
use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.
Systemic Pain Relief
The use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) should be used to provide ad-
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF BOVINE PRACTITIONERS
1130 East Main Street, Suite 302 • Ashland, Ohio 44805 • Phone: 419.496.0685 • Fax: 419.496.0697 • www.aabp.org • email: aabphq@aabp.org
Revised November 2019
ditional and longer lasting pain relief. The use of
injectable, topical or oral NSAIDs are accept-
able for pain mitigation in the immediate post-
operative period. Meloxicam has been shown to
mitigate post-procedure pain for up to 48 hours
after a single dose of the drug.3 Topical NSAID
applications make the administration of NSAID
therapy at the time of disbudding or dehorning
practical in most instances when oral, IV or IM
administration is difficult although further study
is warranted to determine its effectiveness in
mitigating dehorning pain.4 The type of NSAID
used should be prescribed by the Veterinar-
ian of Record. There are currently no approved
drugs in the United States for use in cattle with
an indication to provide analgesia associated
with dehorning pain. AMDUCA regulations allow
extra-label drug use provided a valid Veterinarian-
Client-Patient Relationship exists and the drug
selection process, records and withholding
times outlined in the AMDUCA regulations are
followed.
DEFINITIONS
■ Analgesia: Alleviation of pain, patient is alert.5
■ Anesthesia: Without sensation, patient is asleep and cannot be
awakened, amnesia, and loss of reflexes.5
■ Dehorning: Removal of the horns and horn-producing corium after the
horns have formed and are attached to the skull.6
■ Disbudding: Removal or destruction of the horn producing corium
in young calves. At this age the horn buds are free-floating and not
attached to the skull.6
■ Sedation: Slight depression, patient is awake.5
REFERENCES
1. https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/pnw626
Accessed November 2019
2. Neely CD, Thomson DU, Kerr CA, Reinhardt CD. Effects of three
dehorning techniques on behavior and wound healing in feedlot cattle,
Journal of Animal Science 2014;92:2225-2229. https://doi.org/10.2517/
jas.2013.7424
3. Abrahamsen EJ. Chemical restraint and injectable anesthesia of
ruminants. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice
2013;29:209-227.
4. Kleinhenz et al. Effects of transdermal flunixin meglumine on pain
biomarkers at dehorning in calves, Journal of Animal Science
2017;95:1138. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2016.1138
5. Handbook of Clinical Veterinary Pharmacology, 4th edition.
Dan. W. Upson. 1993.
6. https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/LiteratureReviews/Pages/
Welfare-Implications-of-Dehorning-and-Disbudding-Cattle.aspx
Accessed November 2019